Though it would make sense to merge the SEC with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates derivatives, Congress's powerful agriculture committee would probably block the move.
The cartel requested a study on the effect of invoicing oil in an alternative currency, and an OPEC committee proposed using a basket of currencies to price the commodity.
The Committee expects inflation to moderate in coming quarters, reflecting a projected leveling-out of energy and other commodity prices and an easing of pressures on resource utilization.